Governors gather in Vegas to talk land use, fires

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Leaders from around the West convened a two-day meeting on Wednesday in Las Vegas to discuss land use, wildfires and environmental conservation.

Among the governors attending the winter meeting of the Western Governors' Association are John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Brian Sandoval of Nevada, C.L. "Butch" Otter of Idaho, Steve Bullock of Montana, Gary Herbert of Utah and Matt Mead of Wyoming.

The governors announced eight symbolic resolutions. One asserted that states should be the primary authority for water supply planning, and another said governors should have final say over any nuclear waste stored in their states.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell is expected to deliver the keynote address on Thursday highlighting the federal government's commitment to collaborating on conservation and water issues.

Established in 1984, the association includes governors from 19 states in the West, as well as Guam and American Samoa. Members share ideas, concerns and approaches to dealing with issues unique to the region.